G. S. Ghurye
Encyclopedia
Govind Sadashiv Ghurye was an Indian professor of sociology
. In 1924, he became the second person to head the Department of Sociology in the University of Mumbai
. He can be called as the founding father of Indian Sociology and most of the notable names in Indian Sociology like MN Srinivas,AR Desai,Iravati Karve etc have been guided by him.He was an accomplished Sanskrit scholar as well.
. His early schooling was at the Aryan Education Society's High School, Girgaum, in Mumbai
and then at Bahadur Khanji High School, Junagarh, in Gujrat
. He joined Bahauddin college at Junagarh, in 1912, but moved on to Elphinstone college
, Mumbai, after a year, and received his B. A. (Sanskrit
) and M. A. (Sanskrit) degrees from there. He earned the Footnote1}} with his B. A., and the Chancellor's gold medal with his M. A. degree. After completing his M. A., Ghurye received a scholarship for further studies in England
, and earned his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1922. Ghurye was deeply influenced by W. H. R. Rivers
, who was his Ph.D guide. After Rivers' untimely death in 1922, he completed his thesis under A. C. Haddon.
in 1919. However, when Ghurye took it over, it was on the verge of closure. The department came alive once again with Ghurye, and now, Ghurye is regarded as the real founder. He also founded the Indian Sociological Society and its newsletter, Sociological Journal, and served as head for both. He also headed the Bombay Anthropological Society for some years. After retirement, he served as Professor Emeritus for Mumbai University and at least three festschrifts
were produced in his honor, of which two were during his lifetime. He guided a total of 80 research theses and authored 32 books and a number of other papers. Later, at least two theses were written on him. Among his students were personalities like A. J. Agarkar, Y. M. Rege, L. N. Chapekar, M. G. Kulkarni, M. S. A. Rao
, Iravati Karve, Y. B. Damle, M. N. Srinivas, A. R. Desai, D. Narain, I. P. Desai, M. S. Gore, Suma Chitnis and Victor D'Souza. He also had the opportunity to see the Footnote2}} being instituted in his honor. His book CasteandRaceinIndia}} is regarded as a classic in the field.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. In 1924, he became the second person to head the Department of Sociology in the University of Mumbai
University of Mumbai
The University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
. He can be called as the founding father of Indian Sociology and most of the notable names in Indian Sociology like MN Srinivas,AR Desai,Iravati Karve etc have been guided by him.He was an accomplished Sanskrit scholar as well.
Education
Ghurye was born on 12 December 1893, at Malwan, in MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. His early schooling was at the Aryan Education Society's High School, Girgaum, in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and then at Bahadur Khanji High School, Junagarh, in Gujrat
Gujrat
Gujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
. He joined Bahauddin college at Junagarh, in 1912, but moved on to Elphinstone college
Elphinstone College
Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...
, Mumbai, after a year, and received his B. A. (Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
) and M. A. (Sanskrit) degrees from there. He earned the Footnote1}} with his B. A., and the Chancellor's gold medal with his M. A. degree. After completing his M. A., Ghurye received a scholarship for further studies in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and earned his Ph.D. from Cambridge University in 1922. Ghurye was deeply influenced by W. H. R. Rivers
W. H. R. Rivers
William Halse Rivers Rivers, FRCP, FRS, was an English anthropologist, neurologist, ethnologist and psychiatrist, best known for his work with shell-shocked soldiers during World War I. Rivers' most famous patient was the poet Siegfried Sassoon...
, who was his Ph.D guide. After Rivers' untimely death in 1922, he completed his thesis under A. C. Haddon.
Personal Life
Ghurye was married to Footnote3}} of Vengurla, a town near Malwan. His son, Sudhish Ghurye is a Mathematician and Statistician, and daughter Kumud G. Ghurye was a barrister.Career
Ghurye was appointed as Head of Department of the Department of Sociology in Mumbai University in 1924, and retired in 1959. The department was founded by Patrick GeddesPatrick Geddes
Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologist, philanthropist and pioneering town planner. He is known for his innovative thinking in the fields of urban planning and education....
in 1919. However, when Ghurye took it over, it was on the verge of closure. The department came alive once again with Ghurye, and now, Ghurye is regarded as the real founder. He also founded the Indian Sociological Society and its newsletter, Sociological Journal, and served as head for both. He also headed the Bombay Anthropological Society for some years. After retirement, he served as Professor Emeritus for Mumbai University and at least three festschrifts
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
were produced in his honor, of which two were during his lifetime. He guided a total of 80 research theses and authored 32 books and a number of other papers. Later, at least two theses were written on him. Among his students were personalities like A. J. Agarkar, Y. M. Rege, L. N. Chapekar, M. G. Kulkarni, M. S. A. Rao
M. S. A. Rao
Madhugiri Saroja A. Rao was a professor of sociology who had been a founder-member in 1959 of the Department of Sociology at the University of Delhi, India. He wrote and edited extensively on subject matters such as the social aspects of nutrition, both urban and rural sociology, and the sociology...
, Iravati Karve, Y. B. Damle, M. N. Srinivas, A. R. Desai, D. Narain, I. P. Desai, M. S. Gore, Suma Chitnis and Victor D'Souza. He also had the opportunity to see the Footnote2}} being instituted in his honor. His book CasteandRaceinIndia}} is regarded as a classic in the field.
Footnotes
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External Links
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